JAMES FORD has backed calls for increased cardiovascular screening at all levels of professional rugby league in the wake of the Danny Jones tragedy.

Wales international Jones, 29, died at hospital on Sunday after collapsing early on in Keighley Cougars’ League One match at London Skolars following a suspected cardiac arrest.

He left behind a wife, Liz, and five-month-old twins.

Regular heart testing takes place in Super League but is not mandatory in the second and third tiers, and York City Knights head coach Ford has joined the likes of Keighley captain James Feather and Sheffield Eagles boss Mark Aston in demanding changes.

“Danny’s leaving behind a wife and two young twins, which makes the tragic story even more saddening,” said 31-year-old Ford, himself a new dad.

“I can’t imagine what his wife is going through or how it will impact on his children. I’m struggling to find words to describe it. It’s just horrendous.

“I know people like Mark Aston have been calling for increased levels of cardiovascular screening for players and that could be a really good idea.

“Hopefully as a group of people we can find something that helps to prevent things like this happening in the future.”

Tributes from throughout the rugby world have poured in for half-back Jones, and more than £40,000 was raised inside two days of his death for the RFL Benevolent Fund, which helps people injured while playing rugby league. That money will also support Jones’ family and team-mates.

Many people’s man of the match when Keighley beat York on the opening day of the League One campaign, Jones, who also played for home-town club Halifax, scored more than 1,000 points in 150 appearances for the Cougars, who have now retired his number six shirt.

“I was just shocked and saddened,” said Ford, who heard the news after the Knights’ defeat at Swinton on Sunday. “It’s good to see the rugby league family providing support.

“I played against Danny for a number of years. He was a keen competitor and a very good player.

He will obviously be sorely missed in and out of the game. It puts everything into perspective.

“We came away with a loss on Sunday but then you hear about this. We love rugby league and are passionate about it, but it is a game, and there are much more important things in life, this obviously being one. People had been texting one another after the match. There were rumours Danny was in a bad way and it was a pretty glum dinner room.

“People were hoping for the best but then it was all confirmed. Everyone was just shocked. It’s just terrible.”

Sheffield forward Tony Tonks has been pushing for Electrocardiography (ECG) to be made compulsory through the Yorkshire-based charity Heartbeat of Sport, of which he recently became chief executive.

The 30-year-old said: “(It is an) easy and simple test that takes just ten minutes and helps save the lives of sports men and women who are at greater risk of cardiac problems.

“I have been trying to stress the need for screening, defibrillators and CPR training throughout the rugby league community and all sporting clubs.

“Testing players for cardiac problems, I believe, should be done annually. As the standards of competition go up each year, the pressure on a player’s performance and training increases.”